These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Michael Cohen Bombshell:** The special counsel reportedly has evidence that President Trump directed Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, to lie to Congress about a plan to build a tower in Moscow in order to obscure Trump’s involvement in the negotiations. Read more [here](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/trump-russia-cohen-moscow-tower-mueller-investigation?ref=bfnsplash). * **Poll Rigging:** Cohen, who is currently awaiting a prison sentence, earlier admitted that he paid a firm to rig online polls in his boss’ favor in the early days of the campaign “at the direction of and for the sole benefit of” Trump. Cohen also reportedly paid the firm to create a @WomenForCohen Twitter account to promote him as a sex symbol. Read more [here](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-cohen/ex-trump-lawyer-rigging-polls-was-at-the-direction-of-trump-idUSKCN1PB1PZ). * **Shutdown: Day 28:** President Trump sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi denying her a military plane for a planned trip to visit U.S. troops, a day after she called on him to delay the State of the Union until the shutdown ends. The letter was made public hours before Pelosi was set to take off for Afghanistan on an unannounced visit. Trump said the speaker was welcome to fly commercial. Read more [here](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/17/politics/donald-trump-nancy-pelosi-trip-cancel/index.html). * **Shutdown Impact:** While the nation’s leaders trade barbed letters, furloughed federal workers are now turning to food banks to feed their families. TSA sick-outs are going up, and air traffic controllers are worried they won’t be able to handle the increased traffic to Atlanta ー already some of the busiest airspace in the world ー when the Super Bowl comes to town in two weeks. Read more [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/all-bets-are-shutdown-s-impact-super-bowl-n959591). * **Major Storm:** A "blockbuster" blizzard is poised to potentially drop 40 inches of snow along the East Coast this weekend. The storm, which began in California, is first expected to drop heavy amounts of snow in states including South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas today. Frigid temperatures are expected after the storm moves out to shore on Sunday. Read more [here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/17/winter-storm-east-coast-midwest-new-york-pennsylvania/2601621002/). * **Family Separations:** The White House’s zero-tolerance family separation policy likely kept thousands more migrant children from their parents than previously disclosed, according to a federal audit. The exact number of children separated is still unknown because of failures in tracking split-up families. Read more [here](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/17/report-trump-administration-migrants-1093242). * **Target for Babies:** Target is expanding its in-house brand of baby products like wipes and diapers, with most priced under $10. Target is betting that, after Babies ‘R Us went out of business, it can increase its market share with new parents, considered some of the store’s most important customers. There’s at least one fan: Beyonce was recently spotted strolling the baby aisles at an L.A. Target. Read more [here](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/target-is-making-a-bigger-bet-on-baby.html). * **Amazon Milestone:** Amazon Prime has surpassed 100 million members, according to estimates from a consumer research group. The average Prime member spends $1,400 per year on Amazon, compared to $600 for the average non-Prime Amazon shopper. Read more [here](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-prime-membership-exceeds-100-million-2019-01-17). * **Championship Weekend:** The top four NFL teams battle for a Super Bowl berth in the conference championship games on Sunday. The Rams take on the Saints at 3 p.m., directly followed by the Patriots and Chiefs, who will play amid frigid temperatures in Kansas City. See the predictions [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/sports/nfl-playoffs-predictions-picks.html). * **Spotted:** Heidi Klum covered in snakes. Klum donned the snakes for a "Germany’s Next Top Model" photoshoot. See the pic [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6605987/Heidi-Klum-poses-lingerie-SNAKES-slither-sexy-GNTM-photoshoot.html). * **My Two Husbands:** In an appearance on Ellen (that was being hosted by Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn), Gwyneth Paltrow referred to ex Chris Martin and husband Brad Falchuk as “my two husbands.” She was talking about her honeymoon, or ‘familymoon,’ that included Falchuk and Martin. Read more [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6604277/Gwyneth-Paltrow-labels-Chris-Martin-Brad-Falchuk-two-husbands.html). * **Prince Philip:** The 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, was reportedly “very shocked and shaken” after the Land Rover he was driving crashed into another car and wound up overturned. The prince is said to be okay. Read more [here](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46912691). Cheddar's Hena Doba gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).

Share:
More In Politics
Party Switch Gives GOP Veto-Proof Control in North Carolina
A Democratic state lawmaker in North Carolina announced Wednesday that she is jumping to the Republican Party, giving the GOP veto-proof majorities in both the state's legislative chambers that should make it easier to enact conservative policies over the opposition of Gov. Roy Cooper.
IRS Refunds Are Down 9 Percent From Last Year
Tax payers are getting less bang for their buck in 2023. The IRS said the government has so far issued $172 billion in refunds. That's down 9 percent from a year ago, and the average refund is down from roughly $3,2000 to $2,900. However, the overall number of people to get refunds is up 3 percent.
Kansas OKs Bill That Penalizes Doctors for Some Abortions
Doctors accused of not providing enough care to infants delivered alive during certain kinds of abortion procedures in Kansas could face lawsuits and criminal charges under a bill that won final approval Tuesday in the state's Republican-controlled Legislature.
EPA Estimates 9.2M Lead Pipes Carry Water Into Homes
Some 9.2 million lead pipes carry water into homes across the U.S., with more in Florida than any other state, according to a new Environmental Protection Agency survey that will dictate how billions of dollars to find and replace those pipes are spent.
Liberals Win Control of Wisconsin Supreme Court
The incoming majority is expected to rule on a challenge to the state's 1849 abortion ban. The current court, under a 4-3 conservative majority, came within one vote of overturning President Joe Biden’s win in the state in 2020.
Load More